The international jazz artist competition Riga Jazz Stage will take place from April 7 to 9 at the Splendid Palace cinema in Riga.
Riga Jazz Stage 2022 will take place for the 13th time and will gather not only the rising jazz talents from different countries, but a prominent international jury as well, making Riga Jazz Stage a jazz celebration marked on the world map of this genre. The special guest will be the winner of Thelonious Monk competition and Grammy Award nominee – composer, singer and drummer Jamison Ross from the United States, who will take part in the jury, lead a workshop and perform on April 9th when the award ceremony will take place.
A competition concert with 26 young talents will take place on April 7. A total of 13 countries' jazz schools will be represented at Riga Jazz Stage, as artists from Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Italy, United Kingdom, Turkey and the United States will arrive in Riga, and Latvian vocalists and drummers will participate as well.
On April 8, the final of the competition will take place, where the 12 best candidates selected by the jury will perform to the audience, and on April 9, Jamison Ross will give a brilliant demonstration of vocal and drumming skills together in one concert.
Ross' colleagues on the jury will be Toivo Unt (Estonia), Artistic Director of Jazz Time Festival, Jonas Jučas (Lithuania), Artistic Director of Kaunas Jazz Festival, Giuseppe Mormile (Italy), Artistic Director of Venezia Jazz Festival, Paul Pace (United Kingdom), Music Bookings Coordinator at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, Önder Focan (Turkey), Artistic Director of Nardis Jazz Club in Istanbul, Catherine Mayer (Germany), Director of Agency Just Jazz International, Georgina Javor (USA), Vice President of Concerts & Touring at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Māris Briežkalns, Artistic Director of Riga Jazz Stage, and Latvian Maestro Raimonds Pauls.
The contestants will be accompanied by the Riga Jazz Quartet, featuring pianist Kristaps Vanadziņš, guitarist Rihards Goba, bassist Jānis Rubiks and drummer Miķelis Vīte.
"The level of this year's competition will be very high, as several participants who have already won prestigious competitions will take part in it," says Māris Briežkalns. "This is still the biggest competition for jazz artists in the Baltic States and its name has been heard all over the world of jazz. And thanks to online opportunities, jazz enthusiasts all over the world will be able to watch it. I am especially pleased that the American artist Jamison Ross, who is both an internationally recognized drummer and a singer, will be able to visit Riga Jazz Stage. Good luck to all contestants and true enjoyment of good music for viewers!”
The competition's prize fund includes money and other prizes, as well as invitations to perform at jazz festivals and music clubs in various countries around the world.
Riga Jazz Stage ticket sales will start on March 1 and will be available for purchase at aula.lv. Both live and online tickets will be available.
The event is organized by the Foundation Contemporary Music Center, supported by Riga City Council, State Culture Capital Foundation, Tele 2, A&T Trade and others.
Links:
Contest web page: http://www.rigajazz.lv
